Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 26, Number 11, Decatur, Adams County, 13 January 1928 — Page 1

WEATHER Mostly f»ii" tod * y an d tonight. Probably becoming unse ‘ - tied Saturday- Moderate temperature.

LITTLE GIRL IS KIDNAPED AND SLAIN

Bodies Os Ruth Snyder And Judd Gray Are Laid To Rest

ILLICIT LOVERS PUT TO DEATH IN ELECTRIC CHAIR Pay Supreme Penalty For Murder Os Mrs. Snyder’s Husband EXECUTION GOES OFF AS SCHEDULED Ossining, N. Y„ Jan. 13.— (UP)—Before daylight today, undertakers’ wagons- came to Sing Sing prison here and carried away the bodies of Henry Judd Gray and Ruth Brown Snvder. electrocuted last night. Gray's body, claimed by his mother. was taken to East Orange. N. .1. The funeral was to be held late today. Mrs. Snyder's corpse, claimed by her mother, was taken to an undertaking parlor in the Bronx. New York, and later to the Woodlawn cemetery for burial. Before the bodies were taken from the prison an autopsy was performed. The surgeons reported they found the brains of both normal but that their examination revealed "an al>rormal gland'' in the back of Mrs. Snyder's neck. S'ng Sing Prison. Ossining. N. Y„ Jan. 13. (VP) —Ruth Snyder and Henry Judd Gray, lovers and murderers. have paid the penalty for their love and murder in the same electric chair. They went to death, between 11 and 11:14 o'clock last nightj without a sign of fear arid praying to God To” mercy. The first woman to die in the electr'c chair in this state in 19 years, and one of the handful ever to suffer capital punishment in this country, met death with calmness and resignation. She and Gray, who had been illicit lovers, were nut to death for killing her husband, Albert Snyder, in Oueens Village. New York, lart March. They chloroformed him, bent him to death with sashweight and strang’ed him with wire. Their lives were forfeited to the state in a little, high-ceilinged room rbont 40 feet long and 20 wide, in "Inch a group of 40 persons, including two women had gathered. Forgive me Father, for all my ■us." Mrs. Snyder sold in a low thin little voice lust before 2,200 volts of '’eitricity were shot into her body. Then she whimpered and sobbed ever so faintly. In the solemn strained stillness of th? execution chamber it was plnintv «’’'”ble aniJ jt ROuntle ,j i ikP a )ittle 'hild about to he punished. Then •he current was turned on. She ro’-er moved again. ■bo witnesses, who had gathered ■n the warden’s office, were led to death chamber in a far corner of nrison by a long route under the s ' v - A few stars showed. It v as cold. They were ushered in single file - — " of ,hp death cham•mnttnjn ov fwr five?” MINISTER SPEAKS TO ROTARY CLUB The Rev. Harry Alburt, Presbyterian Preacher Os Huntington, Speaks I he Rev. Harry Alburt, pastor of the I -'esbyterian church of Huntington, addressed the members of the Decatur Rotary Club at their regular meeting at the K. of C. hall last night. Rev. AlImrt took as his subject, “Rotary. I‘Headship". He is delivering his !■ I'iendshlp’’ address to several northern Indiana service clubs. , Besides the speaker, the Rev. Harry Terntheil, pastor of the local Presbyterian church and the Rev. James L. t’hesnut, pastor of the Third Presbyterian church at Fort Wayne, also w ere guests of the club. The address last night was directed chiefly to club members and Rev. Al>urt urged that every member keep his own books on friendship and if the member’s books showed "red ink" he should pay that debt to his club. W. A. Klepper acted as chairman of the evening.

DECATUR DALLY DEMOCRAT ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

Vol. XXVI. No. 11.

I Inherits Fortune ft- I .J u. Lewis O. Bruun, 21-year-old private Jof U. S. Marines at North Island, San Diego, Cal., is trying to get his discharge to be able to take care of a forttnie of $150,000 which was recently left to him. Pleasant Mills Pppils Publish School Paper The second issue of the "Junior High”, a one-page paper published by the seventh and eighth grades of the Pleasant Mills public schools, was issued today. The paper is made up in three column form, The editor-in-chief is James Davis, and the general assistant, “Billy’’ Davis. Department heads are Ruth Ray, Helen Daniels, Elton Archer, Glen Foor. Dora Human. MaryAda Johnson, John Fortney, Thomas Halberstadt, Zelma Eckles and Bertha Mason. The teacher is James E. Logan. The paper contains several news items editorials and the honor roll. EXPLAINS DUTY OF CHRISTIANS Dr. Chesnut Paints Vivid Picture Os True Christian Life The Rev. James L. Chesnut, of Fort Wayne, who is giving a series of lectures at the First Presbyterian church in Decatur this week, continued his service last night, talking on the subject, “Is Christ A Reality To Yen?" Dr. Chesnut gave a very vivid picture of title Christian life and he brought out very clearly what was expected of Christians. A good-sized audience .heard the fine address. The ladies of the Presbyterian church had charge of the song service, which was a very beautiful preface to the inspiring address. Mrs. Ed Engeler and Mrs. J. R. Horton sang a duet. Tonight, Dr. Chesnut will close his series of sermons, and it is expected that a large audience will avail themselves of the cppoitunity of hearing the speaker. Prior to Rev. Chesnut’s talk the local pastor, the Rev. Harry Ferntheil, thanked the congregation for the cooperation in the services and urged that they bring their friends to the meeting at 7:30 o’clock tonight. Rev. Ferntheil also announced that 24 young people, members cf the Presbyterian Sunday school, had professed their desire to unite with the church. o Former Preacher Is Amnesia Victim In Chicago Chicago, Jan. 13—(UP) Harry Price 24, former Methodist preacher of Indianapolis, was today identified as the Amnesia victim found wandering the streets here yesterday. H. C. Stem kamp, and Harold Mancries, employer and cousin of Price, respectively identified him. o— — Former Postmaster At Preble Faces Indictment Fort Wayne, Jan. 13.—(INS)-Harry C. Not th, former postmaster at Preble, Adams county, was arrested late Thursday by John Boegtlin, deputy U. S. marshal, on a charge of embezzlement. North was indicted by the federal grand jury in session at Indianapolis, recently. No bond has been set for North and he has been lodged in the Allen county jail here. When arrested, North expressed surprise at the return of the indictment, saying that he thought the matter was all settled and forgotten two years ago.

State, National And Intrrnullounl New*

DEMOCRATS SHOW DESIRE FOR PEACE WITHIN THE PARTY Harmony Prevails At Jackson Day Dinner Held In Washington, D. C. 13 LEADERS MAKE PATRIOTIC SPEECHES By Paul R. Mallon (U. P. Staff Correspondent) Washington, Jan. 13—(UP)—Fifteen hundred Democratic leaders ut the Jackson Day dinner here showed obvious desires for peace within the party during seven hours of patriotic speeches from 13 leaders. Five scheduled speakers were still unheard when the meeting adjourned at 2:30 A. M. today. The meeting gave every indication that party leaders were willing to go further now to end their diferences than they were the last time they met in the 1924 New York convention. Prohibition and religion—The two questions which have caused disastrous discussion in the past—were mentioned by several speakers but always with the suggestion that they should be subverted to the real Issues of tarrlf, public corruption and equal privileges.. There was a message from Gov. A! Smith cf New York urging that foreign relations, prohibition, agriculture, reform of government machinery, conservation and development of resources and other questions be treated definitely with stern Jeffersonian reasoning. There was a speech from Smith’s old opfionenk .William G. McAdoo, which did not mention Smith or prohibition, but pleaded with the party to preserve its sense of humor. Says Mrs. Snyder And Gray Were Normally Sane Ossining, N. Y., Jan. 13.—(INS)— Ruth Snyder and Judd Gray were normally sane. This is the opinion of George Ogle, of Brooklyn, electrical engineer, who measured the current that sent them to death, after he attended the official autopsy at the prison early today. "In spite of the fact that Ruth was a woman, it required more current to kill her than it did to send her lover, Judd, to eternity," said Ogle. Less than two hours after Ruth and Judd entered the death chamber, scientific post mortem examinations revea?e~ that both were normal in every respect. LINCOLN UNION CHAIRMANNAMED Abraham Simmons, Bluffton, District Chairman; Rev. Thompson Local Head Arthur F. Hall, President of the Lincoln National Insurance Company of Fort Wayne, area chairman for the Indiana Lincoln Union, in building his organization to cover northern Indiana, announces the following district chairmen: Oscar Foellinger, Fort Wayne, District No. 3 and Abram Simmons, Bluffton. District No. 6. This organization is being set tin that northern Indiana may participate properly in the movement to commemorate the fact that Abraham Lincoln, sixteenth president of the United States, was for the fourteen formative years of his life, a citizen of Indiana. Attention has been called to the fact that Lincoln, who was born in Kentucky, served in Washington, and is buried in Illinois, has fitting permanent memorials to .his memory, in each of these states. Indiana, where his childhood was spent, where his mother lies buried, and where many of the important characteristics of his nature were developed, never has shown any formal appreciation of this event. For something more than a year sentiment fostered by a number of the leading citizens of the state, including Frank C. Ball of Muncie, Mrs. Ann Studebaker Carlisle of South Bend. Wfll H. Hays of Sullivan, Col. Richard Leiber of Indianapolis. Thomas Taggart of French Lick, Indiana, Fred M. Ayers of Indianapolis, Mrs. A. D. Cook and Marcus S. Sonntag of Evansville (CONTINUED ON PAGE TWO)

Decatur, Indiana, Friday, January 13, 1928.

Gray And Mrs. Snyder Forgive Each Other Shortly Before Death Ossining. N. Y, Jan. 13.--(INS) — Ruth Brown Synder and Henry Judd Gray died forgiving each other. A short time before they went to the electric chair which joined them in eternity, each sent the other a note What the exact words were none may know. But their minds had worked in independent cerebration anti both had sent the notes spontaneously. "I am very glad," said Gray. “I had hoped she would forgive me. J hope God will forgive her her sin--forgive both of us." Mrs. Snyder too, seemed happy over this last minute gesture. "It is good to be at peace with all," she declared. "I feel kindly toward Judd Gray, and I itojte he doesn’t, take his death hard. I said some unkind things about hint, but it was because I blamed him for putting me in the position I am now in. We sinned together and we are going God knows where." COOLIDGE LEAVES FOR HAVANA,CUBA President And Mrs. Coolidge Leave To Attend PanAmerican Congress Washington, D. C. Jan. 13 —(INS) — President and Mrs. Coolidge left today for Havana where on Monday, the President will deliver the opening address to the Pan-American conference. The presidential special pulled out of Washington at 2:01 o’clock. The president occupied the regular observation car on the rear of the train. Mr. Coolidge's trip will make the first time any American president has visited Latin America and the third time in history that any President ever left the continental limits cf the United States. The presidential party will spend only thirty-six hours in Havana, arriving Sunday evening and departing early Tuesday morning. They will go byway of Key West, by train, and from there on the battleship, Texas. o Miners Stage Riot At Ohio Coal Mine Steubenville, O, Jan. 13.—(UP)— Three hundred union and non-union miners rioted at the Y. and O. coal mine No. 2 at Rush Rud. seven miles from here today, according to advices telephoned to state and county officials. First reports said six nonunion miners had been injured seriously and that the opposing factions were preparing for open conflict. “STRANGLER" IS HANGED TODAY Earle Nelson, Accused Os Strangulation Murders, Executed In Canada Winnipeg, Manitoba. Jan. 13. — (UP) —Earle Nelson ascended the 13 steps of the gallows here shortly after 7:30 a. nt. on this Friday the thirteenth, and paid with his life for the murder of Mrs. Emily Patterson. The trap was sprung at 7:41 o’clock. Nelson was charged with more than a score of strangulation murders in the United States and Canada. Nelson maintained his composure to the last. He continued to declare he was innocent until his weak protests were muffled by the black hood pulled over his head. Nelson was the 13th man hanged on the Manitoba scaffold. The murders attributed to the "strangler” all occurred under similar circumstances. In each case the victim was strangled with a towel and her body was stuffed under a bed. Nelson was arrested for the murder of Mrs. Patterson after he had fled into western Canada and then returned. The hanging took place in a courtyard overlooked by the buildings of Manitoba university. Students of the university were threatened with expulsion if they attempted to view the execution.

HIGH SCHOOL SAFE LOOTED; $75 IS TAKEN Glass Broken In Door Leading Into Superintendent’s Office POLICE REPORT THEY HAVE CLUE Thieves broke into the supeiintendent's office at the Decatur high school building sometime last night and rifled the safe. It was estimated that about $75 in cash was taken from the safe and important papers and reports were scattered over the office. The robber ct robbers broke into the office of Superintendent M. F. Worthman by breaking the glass in the door and unlocking the latch. The safe was then forced open and rifled. A very goed clue has been secured, and Chief of Police Sephtts Melchi stated today that he felt sine the thief or thieves would be takeri into custody before long. No initmation was given as to who the culprit might be other than the statement that it was practically evident that the "job" was done by persons familiar with the school building. Race Problem In Gary Schools Revived Today Gary. Ind., Jan. 13.—(INS) —Gary's high school race problem came to the fore again when two suits were filed in latke county superior courts seeking writs of mandamus to force Superintendent W. A. Wirt of the public schools to readmit three negro girls to enrollment in Emerson high school. Alberteen Marsh. Alberta and Earline Cheeks, the three colored girls were former students at Emerson high school but were transferred to a colored center last fall following a strike on the part of the white students who objected to their presence in the Emerson student body. In the suits now on file no mention of their color is made, the suits merely claiming that they have been discrir mated against. Lindy Arrives At Linn Grove To Make His Home Lindy has arrived at Linn Grove, Adams county. This Lindy is not the famous "lone eagle” of aviation fame, but is the name of a baby born to Mr. and Mrs. Myrl Lybarger, of Linn Grove this week. The youngster has been named Lindy Leu.

SERVICES ARE WELL ATTENDED The Rev. F. W. Knatz, Os Fort Wayne, Speaks At Reformed Church The services now in progress at *he Zion Reformed church have been equally well attended. A fine spirit has been manifested since the beginning of the services. Last night’s message was given by the Rev. F. W. Knatz, of Fort Wayne, in the absence of the Rev. F. H. Rttpnow, also of Fort Wayne, who has been doing the preaching. The speaker last night spoke on the subject, “Accepting Jesus as Lord ", based on Colossians 2:6:7”, As therefore ye have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and builded up in Him". He said: “To accept Jesus as Lord means more than being merely an example to us. To accept Jesus as Lord means that He must be the controlling influence of our lives, if life is vitally related to Him then there should be no doubt as to what we should say or do. Christ must be the root and foundation of all our thinking. All our efforts will fail if we are not rooted and built up in Him. Like the tree which sends its roots deep into the earth and weathers the storms so must life be rooted in the Lord to withstand the ill winds of life.”. Miss Eleanor Reppert rendered a very appropriate solo, “Someone is Watching Your Light". The Rev. Mr. Rupnow will continue his series of sermons tonight at 7:30 o’clock. The G. M. G. will assist with special song selections. Friends and strangers are cordially invited to these services.

Ily The I'nltrd I'reaa an<| luternatlounl .Nena Hervle*

To Nicaragua ’’ I B RIG. -GEN LOGAN FELA ND nniarnatlonal Illustrated Newa) Brigadier-General Feland, commanding the Marine Corps barracks at Parris Island, has been ordered to Nicaragua by the Navy Department, and will tae command of the land operations against Sandino's rebel army.

FORMER JUDGE SENT TO PRISON Carl Yaple, Former Judge Os Allen County Superior Court, Sentenced Fort Wayne, Jan. 13. —Carl Yaple, Fort Wayne attorney and former judge of the Allen superior court, was sentenced to serve a term of 2 to 14 years in the state prison at Michigan City, late Thursday afternoon, when arraigned in circuit court before Judge Sol A. Wood on a charge of embezzlement. Judge Yaple wgs charged with having converted to his own use the sum of $3,500 intrusted to him by Charles Grosvenor, a client living at Clearwater, Fla., for the purchase of a piece of farm land in Madison township. It is said that he has committed other embezzlements, the total of which may exceed $30,000. A. George Fiedler, attorney, who was arrested Monday afternoon for a $3,800 forgery, has declared that he committed the forgery out of loyalty to Judge Yaple, who told him ho was hard-pressed for money and asked his aid. Fiedler had worked for Yaple. The last indorsement on Fiedler's forged check was that of Yaple, Indicating that he received the money. Fiedler says that the former judge did not know the instrument, was forged. The trial of Judge Yaple was one of the swiftest on record in the circuit court. Within an hour after Prosecutor Edwin R. Thomas had placed The affidavit in the hands of the clerk of the court, the defendant had been arrested and sentenced. The former judge was taken to prison at once in keeping with his request and spent the night there. He was accompanied to Michigan City by Deputy Sheriff Fred Lunz and Ben F. Heaton and Chester L. Teeter, attorneys, who had been deputized by Sheriff Guy Emrick. Because the trial was unexpected only a few attorneys and courthouse officials were in the courtroom when Judge Yaple appeared as a defendant at the bar where he had so often practiced. The spectators were few, but the situation was none the less tense. It had quickly traveled through the courtroom that the defendant would plead guilty and that he would not ask for mercy. His usual dignified manner did not desert him as he ((ONTINUED ON PAGE FIVE)

Price Two Cents

MAN HUNT BEGINS AFTER MUTILATED BODY IS FOUND Crime Similar To That Committed By Hickman Occurs In Michigan GIRL, 5, ATTACKED, MUTILATED, SLAIN Flint. Mich., Jan. 13. (INS) A inttii hunt was on today folh.wing the discovery of mutilated bodv of 5-year-old Dorotliv Schneider in tn ice cox cred creek, 3 miles from here in Mt. Morris, a suberh of Flint. The child, victim of tt crime similar in some respects to the murder ol Marion Parker by Edward Hickman in California, had been attacked before her abductor ripped her small body wit I) long sweeps of a butcher knife. Little Dorothy was in a state of merciful unconsiiou mess when her small body was horribly mutilated and hacked by the fiend, it is believed. Think Girl Was Chloroformed Sheriff Frank Green discovered evidence that the little girl had been chloroformed. They also discovered parts of the body which bad been uacked away, apparently by some one with a degree of a surgeon’s skill. Dismembered parts of the body and the cork of a small bottle believed to have contained chloroform were found near an old hollow tree on the banks of the creek. The officers also found chewing gim wrappers and. from this and other evidence, they evolved the .theory that the child wins enticed into the kidnaper's car by the offer of gum, was chloroformed, taken to the creek bank in a small woods, in a desolate area, and their attacked, mutilated and killed. Slayer Is Tracked The slayer left his car on a muddy roail tramped across field and climbed six fences to get to the murder scene. The footprints showed that the child was carried by the man except at one fence which was difficult to climb and here he set her down, proped her against the fence, climbed over and carried her on again. Mrs. Leslie Schneider, mother of the girl, weeping and on the verge of collapse, prayed that the searchers for the fiend would be successful. "I can t see what any man would want to hurt my baby daughter for," she said. “I hope and pray to God they find him.” Near her. three-year-old Kenneth Schneider played wij('i his sister'Jt toys. “Pal”, a collie dog who was Dorothy's companion, went questing here and there. “He’s looking for Dorothy." Mrs. Schneider said. "He hds lieen looking all day." Leslie Schneider, father of the slain girl, locked himself in his room, heaping curses on the slayer. MASONS PLAN INSTALLATION Chicken Dinner Arranged As Feature Os Meeting Next Monday Night All members of the Decatur Chapter of the Masonic lodge are invited to the annual installation of officers and a chicken dinner to be given at the Masonic hall next Monday night. Judge David E. Smith, of Fort Wayne, former Decatur resident, will preside at the meeting of the organization as installing officer. A fine meal has been planned to precede the installation services, and all Chapter members ate asked to plan to come to the meeting Monday night. The exact time of the meeting and banquet will be announced later. Movement Started To Run Jewett For Governor Indianapolis, Jan. 13—(INS)—It became known here, today that a movement has been started to enter Charles W. Jewett, formei mayor of Indianapolis, into the political race as a candidate for the Republican nomination for governor.

YOUR HOME PAPERLIKE ONE OF THE FAMILY